Editing Retroflex consonant (section)

{{Short description|Type of consonant articulation}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox IPA
|above      = Retroflex
|ipa number = 
|ipa symbol = ◌̢
|ipa number2 = 
|ipa symbol2 = ◌̣ 
}}
[[File:Retroflex.svg|alt=|thumb|Subapical retroflex plosive]]

A '''retroflex''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɹ|ɛ|t|ɹ|ə|f|l|ɛ|k|s|,_|-|ɹ|oʊ|-|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Retroflex consonant.wav}}) or '''cacuminal''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|k|j|uː|m|ᵻ|n|ə|l|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-cacuminal.wav}}) '''consonant''' is a [[coronal consonant]] where the tongue has a flat, concave, or even curled shape, and is articulated between the [[alveolar ridge]] and the [[hard palate]]. They are sometimes referred to as '''cerebral consonants'''—especially in [[Indology]].

The [[Latin]]-derived word ''retroflex'' means "bent back"; some retroflex consonants are pronounced with the tongue fully curled back so that articulation involves the underside of the tongue tip ([[subapical]]). These sounds are sometimes described as "true" retroflex consonants. However, retroflexes are commonly taken to include other consonants having a similar [[place of articulation]] without such extreme curling of the tongue; these may be articulated with the tongue tip ([[Apical consonant|apical]]) or the tongue blade ([[Laminal consonant|laminal]]). When apical, they have been called '''apico-domal''' consonants.